"Shroud of Darkness" is the thirty-third episode of the Disney XD animated series, Star Wars Rebels. It premiered on March 2, 2016, and is the sixteenth episode of the second season.
Plot[]
During a search for a base for the Rebellion, Ezra and Kanan barely escape from another encounter with the Empire’s Inquisitors. Both master and padawan agree it is becoming a problem that could endanger the Rebellion. Unless they find a way to defeat them, it will be impossible to find a suitable base for the rebels.
Understanding they need some advice, Kanan and Ezra meet up with the Ghost away from the Rebel fleet. Also on board is Ahsoka, and Ezra finds her in a cabin watching a Holocron recording of her former master, Anakin Skywalker, teaching different Lightsaber tactics. Ezra joins her, and admits his admiration for her former master. To both Ezra and Ahsoka, Anakin was the greatest warrior the Jedi had in the Clone Wars and very powerful. He cared deeply about his friends, and always looked out for them. Apparently, Ahsoka never knew what happened to him after the war. Kanan enters and expresses his concerns for their encounters with the Inquisitors and how it was endangering the Rebellion. Ahsoka agrees it is a problem, and remembers when there was a crisis Anakin and herself would consult with Obi-Wan or Master Yoda. Ahsoka’s mention of Yoda gives Kanan an idea where they can ask him for help. The three of them take the Phantom and set a course back to Lothal.
Upon arriving, they land outside the Jedi temple that Kanan and Ezra visited a while back. Using the force both master and padawan open the secret passage, but instead of the entrance they originally went through they open another. Kanan, Ezra, and Ahsoka enter the temple while Chopper stands guard beside the Phantom. The new passage leads them to a new chamber. After the door behind them seals, Kanan, Ezra, and Ahsoka gather around in the center of the chamber, get on their knees and begin to meditate, hoping that Yoda will contact them like before. For a while it is all silent. Guided by the Force, Kanan finds himself in the presence of a Jedi Temple Guard who is expecting him. He requests guidance in combating Vader and his Inquisitors. The guard states that fighting is futile, and he will fall along with the Rebellion. For his apprentice, however, the guard tells Kanan that he would fall to the Dark Side. The guard ignites his lightsaber and plans to eliminate Ezra, but Kanan stands in his way and a duel begins.
Kanan battling the Temple Guard.
Meanwhile Chopper detects two ships approaching their position, and takes the Phantom into hiding. Two TIE Fighters flown by the Inquisitors arrive outside the hidden Jedi Temple. Upon landing, the Fifth Brother already believes the Jedi have fled, but the Seventh Sister feels they are still present in the area. She deploys one of her Seeker Droids to take a closer look. From the droid they discover where the Jedi are and the temple. Back inside the temple, Ezra and Ahsoka begin talking about Master Yoda. In her youth, Ahsoka remembered him being a very wise, kind, and happy. But as the clone war dragged on he carried a great burden and deep sorrow. Suddenly Ezra disappears before her eyes, and Ezra finds himself in the place where he received his kyber crystal. Then, to his surprise, he meets Master Yoda face to face. Kanan meanwhile continues to fight against the temple guard, as two more Guards entered the duel. Now alone, Ahsoka begins to hear the voice of her former master. In this moment, she hears Anakin expressing his disapproval for her leaving him. As tears of grief draw down her face, Anakin’s voice continues to torment her for being selfish and abandoning him, leaving him to suffer a fate far worse than death.
With Master Yoda, Ezra begins asking him how it will be possible to defeat Vader and his Inquisitors. Yoda expresses regret for the Jedi arrogantly taking part in the Clone Wars: fear and anger eventually consumed the Jedi, leading to their defeat against the Dark Side. Suddenly, the temple beings to quake as the Inquisitors attempt to enter. Kanan continues to battle the three temple guards until he is overpowered. At their mercy, Kanan admits defeat. He expresses his best efforts to train Ezra and protect him, but knows that he will not always be able to protect him forever, not even from himself. Instead of striking him down, however, the Temple Guard knights him and congratulates him on his strength. He then reveals himself to be The Grand Inquisitor, as he was before his fall. He urges Kanan to flee while he and his fellow Temple Guards hold the Inquisitors off. Meanwhile, Ezra begs Yoda for guidance in their struggle. Yoda simply tells him to find Malachor and disappears.
The Inquisitors surrounded by the temple guards.
The Inquisitors gain access to the second passage and enter, only to be confronted by the Temple Guards, led by their late leader. Elsewhere, Kanan, Ezra, and Ahsoka reunite and escape from the Temple. Chopper brings the Phantom around and picks them up. As they flee, Ezra shares his encounter with Yoda to Kanan and Ahsoka, including the instruction to find Malachor. Meanwhile, Darth Vader arrives at the Jedi Temple. Though the Inquisitors sense the Jedi are growing strong in their power, Vader knows that his master will be most pleased by this discovery.
Cast[]
- Taylor Gray as Ezra Bridger
- Vanessa Marshall as Hera Syndulla
- Freddie Prinze, Jr. as Kanan Jarrus
- Tiya Sircar as Sabine Wren
- Steve Blum as Garazeb Orrelios
- Sarah Michelle Gellar as the Seventh Sister
- Philip Anthony-Rodriguez as the Fifth Brother
- Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano
- Matt Lanter as Anakin Skywalker
- James Earl Jones as Darth Vader
- Frank Oz as Yoda
- Jason Isaacs as Sentinel
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Master Yoda makes a visual appearance in this episode.
- Matt Lanter, who provided the voice of Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, briefly reprises his role in this episode.
